Cities Are Secretly Testing Predictive Policing Software

According to documents obtained by Motherboard, the use of the predictive policing software PredPol is far more widespread than previously reported.

Using public information requests, Motherboard obtained documents that verify previously unconfirmed police department contracts with the predictive policing company PredPol. The company claims to use an algorithm to predict crime in specific 500-foot by 500-foot sections of a city, so that police can patrol or surveil specific areas more heavily. But this type of surveillance technology brings with it serious potential for perpetuating bias that’s already widespread in policing, and is likely to disproportionately affect people of color. Motherboard reporter Caroline Haskins found that police departments all across the country are in contract negotiations with PredPol. In this episode of The VICE Guide To Right Now Podcast, we sit down with Haskins to learn more.